family name

noun

Examples of family name in a Sentence

Her family name is Smith. searched for their family name on a popular genealogy website
Recent Examples on the Web Atreides is Paul’s family name, one of the great houses in the Dune universe and a major political power. Lucas Trevor, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 My family name on the back of the jersey, that’s very important to me. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Constantinos, who later made the Greek Orthodox hadj to Jerusalem and, following custom, upgraded his family name from Pateras to Hadjipateras, stayed on board as a seafarer. Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024 Harry Cohn to take my bohemian roots away by denying me my family name. Liz McNeil, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 What follows is a genealogy of important Portuguese family names until 1975, when family member Pedro Brum da Silveira Pinto donated the estate to the representative of the Portuguese royal house, Dom Duarte Pio, and his brother, Dom Miguel de Bragança, Duke of Viseu. Ann Abel, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 The Carnahan family name is well-known and connected within Missouri politics. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024 Yoni came to represent the highest level of sacrifice, and the family name became ubiquitous in Israel. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2024 Names were varied and creatively conceptualized, often inspired by the property’s physical appearance, a family name, local flora and fauna, topography, or region. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'family name.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of family name was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near family name

Cite this Entry

“Family name.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20name. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

family name

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on family name

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